Store-front awning



Aug. 26," 1930.

F. A. ANTON STORE FRONT AWNING Filed Nov. 20, 1928 (gnou 2 mmh IN1/Emo w N N 'Ma Patented Aug. 26, 1930 UNITED STATESl PATENT; OFFICE FREDERICK A. ANTON, F TP'EKA, KANSAS STORE-FRONT awlmwfV Application led November 20,1928'.V Serial No. 320,611.

This invention relates to awnings and more especially to display or store front window awnings of that type, known industrially as lateral arm awnings, which employ a roller and jointed arms pivotally connected at one end adjacent the roller and at the other end to the bar orvpole at the outer end of the fabric, as exemplifiedinY Patents No. 986,120; 1,069,515; y1,081,882 and 1,118,463, issued to 1o me on March 7, 1911; August y5, 1913; December 16, 1913 and November 24, 1914, re-

spectively.

In all of said patents the construction is such that the inner sections of the arms are pivoted to the bracket in a plane so low that Vit was necessary that the outer member be folded -in a Vrising or inclined position to dispose the front rod of the awning at or near f the tendency of architects is to employ nar- 30 row transom bars between the customary plate glass window and transom lights, and because of their greater aesthetic appeal, the transom bars are frequently so narrow that it is impossible to equi them with awnings, heretofore available, o the type above-'mentioned, having the necessaryv projection or reach and at the same time sufficient itch to properly shade the window. This pro lem has given awning companies great concern as 40 frequently calls have been made to equip buildings to which awnings could ,notbe satisfactorily ap lied. It eventu'allyoccurred to me thatif tiie inner sections of the jointed t arms could be so arranged that'when in folded condition they would `be maintained inV aihorizontal plane but horizontal plane but slightly below the axis of the roller andvadjacent the outer surface thereof, it would be possible to dispose the outer sections likewise, and if this could'be done, the folded awning kwould occupy less space, vertically measured, than would be otherwise possible, and enable me to apply an. awning to the modern narrow transom bar and at the same time make provision for any spreadv and pitch desired.v y Y 55 Accordingly I have found that by relatively raising and setting back the pivotally-adrjustable arm-supporting bracket in close proximity to the roller, I can provide for the, y support of the entire arm, whenfolded, in a slightly below that of the axis of the roller. This could not be done in a practical manner with the type of hangers and bracketsof the prior art patents mentioned, and I accordingly devised a pivotal connection between each hanger andthe respective arm-carrying bracket,whereby the pivotal axis of the connection stands in substantialv alinement with the inner arm `mem p vber when the latter is inl folded'or'horizon- 70 tal position, together with clamping means to vmaintain the adjustment secured. It was also found-desirable to make provision for' positively locking the'bracket at the requisite adjustment to give the desired pitch to the awning fabric when spread, and I accomplish this also by an adjustableconnection between the hanger and bracket. In other respects the structure corresponds in principlel Y and in arrangement to the patented structures hereinbefore identified, and'reference is herewith'made to such patentsfor a full understanding of the general construction and mode of operation involved. of such co'mmon lfeatures as not particularly described and shown herein.

` There is alarge demand for'concealed or recess'bo'x awning constructions. ATo provide such type within the height of the modern l narrow transom bar, and allow for as much .0

as a 45 pitch of the fabric, has been heretofore impracticable and to meet this condition, I make the box in a fixed or rear section and a movable or front section, the front one constituting the pole or bar to which the outer or front end of the awning fabric is attached, and to avoid undue width from front to rear of the box and at the same time provide for a complete encasement of the awning when closed, without making the front section of undue weight and size, the bottom of the box is made narrower than the to and the front section of less height than t e fixed section and provided with a rearwardly-projecting flange to abut the front edge of the bottom of the fixed section When the awning is rolled up or closed, the front section thus forming part of the bot-tom and part of the front of the complete box.

With the object of producing an awning of the type mentioned susceptible of application to the very7 narrow type of transom banand for open or concealed use, the infvention consists in certain novel and useful features of construction and combinations of parts as hereinafter described and claimed; and in order that it may be fully understood, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which: f so Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a shore front awning embodying the invention, Ithe view showing the awning in folded condition in full lines, with the top of the housing or box omitted and the awning fabric broken .awa

` Figure 2 is a front view of the same, with the awning pole omitted.

Fi re 3 1s an enlarged section taken on the l1ne III-III of Figure 1, but showing the inner arm member broken away but in unfolded or operative position.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on a still greater scale taken on the line IV-IV of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the arm-carrying brackets, and also shows 1,a ,part of the connection for locking the ,bracket against accidental movement.

Referring to the drawing in detail, Where like reference characters identify correspond- .ing parts in all of the figures, 1 indicates one of a pair of bearing brackets for securement `torthe transom bar (not shown) of a. store front, or to and Within a housing or box 2, rigidly/secured to a transom bar, the housing or box being shown in this instance as of rectangular form in cross section.

jThe rbearings are for the support of a Iroller 3 for the awning fabric 4, and if the Aawningg; is of substantial length, there will beprqvided an intermediate roller support of suitable character, that shown comprising n bracket 5 secured to the transom bar or ,hqusmg and equipped with a series of rolll"ergs, ,zilppp whichthe fabric around the roll- .ismesteieildfaseller 7 .te Orerlathefahrw and cooperate in its is opened or closed.

For each awning there will be provided two or more foldable arms, each of which consists of an outer member S and an inner member 9 operating laterally on the jackknife principle. Only one set of the arms is shown, and the outer end of each outer member is equipped with a bracket or plate 10 for pivotal connection at 11 with the front polel 12 at the front end or edge of the awning fabric. In the housed type of awning, such as shown herein as distinguished from the unprotected type, the awning pole is preferably in the form of a bar, and said bar as hereinafter explained more in detail, conveniently forms a. closure for the opening in the housing or box through which the foldable arms and the fabric operate in the opening and closing of the awning.

The inner end of the arm member 8 is equipped with a forked bracket 13 pivotally engaging a bolt 14 carried by a bracket 15 secured to the adjacent end of the inner arm member 9. The inner end of' the latter is equipped with a` forked bracket 16 pivotally engaging a bolt 17 carried by lugs or ears 18 of a bracket rotatably mounted in a hanger 19 secured to the transom bar or to and within the housing or box, and in this connection it will be noted that the pivot bolts 14 and `17 incline not only in an upward and outward direction, but are also tilted laterally. This inclining or tilting of the pivot bolts is necessary to insure proper operation of the arms in the spreading or closing of the awning, and for guarding against undue frictional contact of the latter with said arms, as explained in connection with the prior art patguidance as the awning ents hereinbefore identified to which referi ence is duly made for a full understanding of such operation. t

The hanger 19-there will be one for each foldable arm-is formed at its outer end with a horizontally arranged tubular bearing head. 20 internally tapered from both ends toward the middle (see Figure 4), and each bracket equipped with lugs 18, has a conical stud 21 W lich fits in one end and conforms in taper to the enclosing portion of the head 2O and is provided with a cross partition 22 having a central opening engaged by a headed bolt 23. The bolt extends through a corresponding partition in a hollow tapered wedge or plug 24 fitting within the other end of the head and engaging the tapered surface thereof, the Wedge being internally tapered to receive the small end of the plug 21. A nut 25 engages the outer end of the bolt and bears against the partition of the wedge for the purpose of clamping the bracket against the inner end of thev head and in rigid relation thereto and to the wedge, so that there shall not be any accidental pivotal movement of the bracket on the hanger, it being understood that rotative adjustment of the bracket on the hanger makes provision for varying the pitch or angle of the curtain, when spread. As a precautionary measure against accidental rotative adjustment, the bracket is provided with a swivelled threaded eye 26 with which is engaged the threaded end of a rod 27, the other end of said rod being reversely threaded and engaging a swivelled threaded eye '28 rigidly secured to the companion hanger. To readily accommodate this locking connection to changes of rotatable adjustment of the bracket, the rod has a plurality of diametric holes 29 wherein a nail can be fitted to turn the rod for the required spacing of the eyes, a nail or the like being the most convenient tool for such purpose as Ythe rod is almost inaccessible to operation by a wrench or pliers.

The pole or bar 12 at the front end of the awning by connection with two or more foldable arm members 8, is maintained in a horizontal position and corresponds in length to the width of the awning fabric. iVhere the awning is of the protected type, the top of the housing or box preferably terminates in a depending flange or narrow front wall '30, to so reduce the height of the opening through which the awning operates, that the pole or bar 12 shall not be of undue width and weight, and in order that the foldable arms may extend downward and outward to give about a 45 pitch to the awning when spread, the bottom of the housing or box is narrower than the top (see Figure 3), and to compensate for this reduced width, the bar 12 is provided at its lower edge with a rearwardly or inwardly-projecting flange 31 which, when the body of the bar fills and closes the opening, abuts the front edge of the bottom, as shown by Figure 1 and in dotted lines by Figure 3. When thus arranged the only parts exposed are the housing and the customary scalloped drape (not shown) at the front edge of the fabric.

From the above description and the drawing, it will be apparent that I have produced an awning structure which is adaptable by simply varying the length of the arm members S and 9, to a store front of any size, and which when folded, takes up so little space, measured vertically or from front to rear or both, that it is applicable lto the very narrow transom bars of modern buildings without sacrifice of strength or efficiency. It is also apparent that it is susceptible of minor structural changes within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination in an awning, of a suitably journaled horizontally-arranged roller and fabric'for winding and unwinding thereon, a rigidly mounted hanger having a horizontal head outward and in the horizontal plane of the lower part of the roller, a horizontal bracket rotatably adjustable around the axis of and ysecured to said head, a bolt engaging the bracket and inclined upwardly and forwardly and downward and laterally, and a foldable arm pivotally engaged at wardly and forwardly and downward and laterally, and a folding arm, consisting of an inner member pivoted at one end to said'bolt, and an outervmember pivoted at its inner end to the outer end of the inner member, the pivotal connection for the latter leaning fforwardly and laterally to cause the said member to slope downwardly and forwardly when unfolded and to extend horizontally and parallel with the rollerwhen folded, and the pivotal connection between the members being tilted to cause the outer member to extend relativelyv upward and forward from the inner member when both are unfolded and to extend parallel and in overlapping relation with the inner member when both members are in folded position. E,

3. .The combination in an awning, of a suitablyk journaled horizontally-arranged roller and fabric for winding and unwinding thereon, a rigidly mounted hanger having a horizontal head outward and in the horizontal plane of the lower part of the roller, a bracket having'a horizontal. aXiall stud secured rigidly to and rotatably adjustable on said head, a bolt engaging the` bracket and inclined upwardlyy and forwardly and downwardly and"laterallya foldable arm pivotallyengaged at its rear orinner end with said bolt, and adapted to lie substantially horizontal and parallel with the roller whenfolded and when unfolded to extend downward and forward with respect to the roller, and a pole for the front end or edge of the awning fabric, pivotally attached to the outer end of Athe foldable arm and adaptedvwhen the latter is folded, to extend parallel with, in the same horizontalplane as, and forward'of said arm and roller. p I y 4.V The kcombination j in an awning, of a vhorizontally-extending housing having an opening at its front side, a horizontal roller journaled within the box and provided with a fabric for winding and unwinding thereon and for extendingforwardly through said opening, an awning pole attached tothe front ioo end of the awning fabric and adapted when the latter is fully wound to occupy said opening and form a front wall for the box, a hanger secured in the box and underlying the roller and provided with a horizontal head forward and in the horizontal plane of the lower part of the roller, a bracket rigidly secured to and rotatably adjustable around a horizontal axis, on said head, a bolt carried by said bracket, and an arm foldable in jackknife action and pivotally connected at its inner end to said bolt and at its outer end to said pole, and adapted when folded to lie horizontally between the roller and awning pole, and when unfolded, to extend downwardly and forwardly through said opening and below the awning fabric.

5. In an awning structure, the combination of a hanger havingr a tubular head eX tending horizontally, of a bracket abutting one end of the head and having a stud projecting rotatably into the latter, a stud abutting the opposite end of the head and projecting thereinto, and clamping means engaging the two studs and exerting force to clamp them rigidly against opposite ends of the head; the said bracket, exteriorly of the head being provided with a pair of spaced lugs and a pivot bolt engaging said lugs and extending upwardly and forwardly and downwardly and laterally, and a foldable arm pivotally engaging said bolt between the bracket lugs and adapted when folded to eX- tend parallel with said studs and when unfolded in a plane intersecting the axis of said studs.

6. In an awning structure, the combination of a vertically-disposed hanger having a horizontally extending head, a bracket abutting one end of said head and provided with a stud projecting into the head, a second stud abutting the opposite end of said head and projecting thereinto, clamping means dis posed axially of the head and studs to secure the latter rigidly against opposite ends of the head, a pair of eyes secured to the hanger and bracket respectively, and a rod having reversed screw threaded ends respectively threaded through said eyes for locking the bracket against rotatable movement with respect to the hanger; said eyes being rotatably adjustable to accommodate different rotatable adjustments of the bracket on the hanger.

7. The combination of a horizontal roller and awning fabric wound thereon, a fixed hanger underlying the roller and provided f ith a horizontal cylindrical head paralleling ne roller, and occupying a point forward but in the same horizontal plane as the lower part of the roller, a bracket fitting against and clamped to the head for rotative adjustment in a vertical plane and provided with upper and lower lugs, a folding arm, pivoted at its inner end to and between said lugs for In testimony whereof I aHiX my signature.

FREDERICK A. ANTON.

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